Iraqi ‘Emo’ Youth Slayings, Rage Against The Limbaugh, Homeless People As WiFi Hotspots At SXSW, The Shins Hit SNL

Murder In The Name Of Emo:

Iraqi militia acting in approval of the nation’s Interior Ministry, have been targeting “The Emo phenomenon” in the Middle East, carrying out violent attacks on youth perceived to be affiliated that have led to kidnappings, torture and murders. First reported back in the beginning days of February by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), Pink News followed up on the story last Friday (March 9), pointing to the aforementioned endorsement of the Iraqi government and the Interior Ministry’s official declaration of “measures to eliminate them,” according to comments by the director of the community police of the Ministry, Colonel Mushtaq Taleb Muhammadawi. Working in conjunction with schools throughout Baghdad, Muhammadawi has the “necessary permits” to carry out an “action plan” to “eradicate them.” While in a press statement to Al Arabiya, the Ministry offers some justification explaining that the “devil worshiping” youth are “detrimentally affecting the society and becoming a danger.” Current death figures, mostly by stoning, are estimated in the 90s.

Rage Against The Limbaugh:

Joining Peter Gabriel and Rush, and the onslaught of over 50 advertisers that have withdrawn ads from right-wing shock jock Rush Limbaugh‘s radio show and his “slut” and “prostitute” condemning of law student Sandra Fluke for her advocacy of contraception being a part of US health coverage, Rage Against The Machine have demanded “Sleep Now In The Fire” be pulled, as well. Guitarist Tom Morello via tweet: To Rush Limbaugh: Hey Jackass, stop using our music on your racist, misogynist, right wing clown show. Sincerely, Rage Against The Machine.

Homeless WiFi:

This year at the massively traffickedSouth By Southwest interactive/music festival in Austin, TX: homeless people turned into WiFi hotspots. Dubbed simply “Homeless Hotspots,” ad agency BBH – not affiliated with SXSW proper – is attacking the notoriously slammed WiFi and cellphone networks come the mass ascension into the city via community service, outfitting homeless people from Front Steps Shelter with a wireless router, in which the homeless become “Hotspot Managers” in a Sreetwise-esque financial structure, charging festival-goers for access while pocketing 100% of their earnings. Head over to Pitchfork for some choice quotes from the ad Agency and some of the controversy surrounding the move.

Simple Show:

In case you missed this past weekend’s Saturday Night Live, Portland jangle-pop icons The Shins, or rather James Mercer and what he’s calling the latest incarnation of the ever-evolving Shins took the show’s musical guest stage performing “Simple Song” and “It’s Only Life” from the forthcoming Port of Morrow, that drops March 20, both of which if you can’t wait for the iTunes promo stream tomorrow, are available on NBC.com. This was Mercer and co’s second SNL outing. And the show’s infamous sound woes seemingly did not apply.

About Gavin Paul

Gavin Paul is SONGLYRICS' Editor-in-Chief. Chicago-bred, New York-sculpted, his words and ideas have appeared in publications ranging from Spin and Rolling Stone to The Chicago Sun-Times and Arborist News.